Despite many tragedies, Tadar Niglar, 45, has quietly moved forward in life, with a hope for a better future.
With sheer determination and focus, the soft-spoken man is taking on life’s challenges thrown at him, head-on.
Early Life
Niglar never knew his parents, who died just when he was about 3-4 years old.
“I don’t even have a vague memory of my parents,” he says. For a while he was with his uncles and aunts. It was his paternal grandmother, who took care of him after his parents left him.
Hailing from a remote area- Dado village under Nyapin circle in the then Subansiri district and present day Kurung Kumey district, didn’t help him, as he always wanted to see the outside world.
“Once, I ran away with my friends to Ziro, without knowing the repercussions,” he said smilingly. Those days, it took 3 days to reach Ziro from Nyapin.
It was a childish decision to explore the world, he recalls. I didn’t know anything, and it was not a wise decision.
From Ziro, the young boy who arrived there without proper clothes on him, was brought to Itanagar by his aunts and other relatives.
“I boarded an APST bus from Ziro and my aunt, who stayed at Pachin Colony, took me under her wings.
Niglar’s aunt (his father’s sister), Tadar Lakey, said, “When his parents passed away. I was worried that his future would be full of troubles. I always guided to stay away from anti-social activities like theft, mischief and telling lies.
I think his grandmother helped him overcome the tragedies and sufferings he faced early in his life, she said.
Lakey admitted the young boy to a nearby government school.
“He was a brilliant student. I always wanted him to become a doctor or an engineer,” Lakey, who still lives in Pachin Colony with her husband and children, said.
My husband, who is a village level worker (Agriculture Field Assistant), used to give me Rs 50 as my monthly expenses. I used to give it to Niglar or sometimes, both of us divided it equally, she said.
She said he could have become a good officer if he was not allured to politics.
Lakey blamed a senior politician and his associates for alluring him to politics.
School days were fun. I overcame numerous challenges, life threw at me, in pursuit of education, he says.
A few years later Niglar was sent to a government school in Sangram in present Kurung Kumey district.
As there was none expect for my grandmother to look after me, I went to school wearing the same school uniform. My half-pant (shorts) were torn and it hid less than it showed, he said.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m alone,” he says. At times, I yearn for a shoulder to lean on when I am in trouble, I yearn for my mother’s scolding when I do something wrong. I long for a warm hug, when I feel low,” he says.
To overcome his emotional being, Niglar supports many orphans by taking care of their educational and other responsibilities by sponsoring them.
I know how hard it is to be without a father’s strict vigil and control, and the love, care and comfort of a mother, he says.
Hardships the life has thrown at him has not forced Niglar a bit to take resort to any unwanted habits and anti-social activities.
Student Politics
After he was admitted at Pachin government primary school, Niglar, initially changed schools many times. He often would work odd jobs to support himself and also held many posts in student bodies.
School days were tough, he recalls. I used to work odd jobs and took care of my daily needs.
Despite being engrossed in work, he passed out with flying colours in Class 10 and 12 board exams from Nyapin government higher secondary school.
Unlike other children, who thrive on their parents’ hard-earned riches, Niglar ran from pillar to post to meet his expenses and also hunted for a job, especially to be absorbed as a ‘night chowkidar’.
“I still have a signed copy of a senior politician, who gave me a night chowkidar job, but I never joined,” he said smilingly.
The leadership skills he learned during his school days kept him in good stead in his college days.
He served as assistant general secretary of the All Nyishi Students’ Union from 1996-98.
As a student leader, Niglar played a key role in toppling the Geogong Apang government in 1999.
It was a result of a two-year movement, which ended Apang’s reign.
As a part of ANSU, Niglar and his associates were instrumental in establishment of Yupia as HQs of Papum Pare district, construction of Pare bridge over Dikrong river, setting up of 500-bedded hospital, fought for establishment of Divisional Commissioner’s office at Yachuli in Lower Subansiri district, among many others.
“I was offered a government job. I was asked to leave the student body but I declined the post of joint block development officer and continued putting pressure on the government of the day, to listen to the collective voice of the people,” he said.
Foray into party politics
Life after completion of graduation was a moment of self-introspection.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to become or didn’t know my calling,” Niglar says.
I appeared for the AP Public Service Commission examination in 2001 and cleared the prelims. But, I somehow could not clear the mains.
His interest in studies and to appear in competitive exams took a backseat, when he entered into marriage with Kipa Siku, his wife. The two have two daughters and an equal number of sons, after 23 years of marital bliss.
As it was normal, Niglar joined the grand old party as a youth congress member.
His time in the ruling party at that time was replete with internal strife, bickering, factionalism and so on.
The party was in a mess, he said. Those in the government were too powerful in party affairs. There was no breathing space for a party member, as the big shots in the government called the shots, Niglar said.
Rise and rise
Following the Congress’ denial to give him a ticket, although he was the most deserving candidate and sure shot to win, Niglar left the party for good.
“I dared to dream big by declining a secured government job. I joined the Indian National Congress and was even elected as the Arunachal Pradesh Youth Congress president, despite some big shots opposing my candidature,” Niglar said.
“I was the first elected president of the Arunachal Pradesh Youth Congress,” he says proudly.
I took loans to contest the 2014 polls. My debts piled up leaving me without a choice to sell off my properties in Itanagar and in my home town, he remembers.
It was at this time I left the party as I was completely sidelined, he says.
Niglar switched to the saffron party just before the polls in 2014.
“Nobody can point a finger at me, as I left Congress when it was in power at the centre and in the state,” he assertively said.
My decision to part ways with Congress was a good one, as I have scaled the ladder of success in the BJP.
In August 2023, Niglar was appointed the BJP general secretary, with an aim to enhance the party’s organisation structure and leadership.
He is the first person in the party organisation to be promoted three times under a decade, a party colleague says.
Looking ahead
Without a privileged start in life, Niglar, however, is not daunted and his confidence has grown and he’s thinking big.
He’s ready to go on with his life and is now embarking on a new journey. He has decided to enter electoral politics and will try his luck from Itanagar assembly constituency.
“I am seeking a party ticket to contest the polls. It is up to the top brass of the party to decide. I will, as a karyakarta follow the party’s diktat,” Niglar said.
Niglar has a busy life – shuffling from one meeting to another every day of the week.
Apart from his party works, he is involved with several organisations like Sadbhav Arunachal, Mumkin, etc., to give back to society and to help those in need.
“Times are changing but I always tried to remain grounded,” he says. Being busy doesn’t mean I don’t have time for those who want any kind of assistance, help and support from me.
“If nothing, I can always give advice,” he says.
He has seen life’s ups and downs, a colleague, who didn’t want to be identified said, adding that it had not dint his confidence a bit but made him stronger.
I feel that if I face the world and tell them I can do this then I can make it. Even if I can’t be a doctor or an engineer. I’ll survive. I won’t let myself down, I give myself the hope, Niglar says, adding that one day I’ll be something.
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